NASHVILLE STAR SELECTS 56 CONTESTANTS FOR REGIONAL FINALS

October 19, 2006 -- The Nashville Star production team narrowed the field of contestants down to an initial list of 56 hopefuls, who will compete at the Regional Finals for a shot at being country music's next sensation. Regionals will take place in Nashville on Nov. 1-3 and from there, the final cast will be chosen and prepped for the season premiere on Thursday, January 11.
Here are the lucky performers who beat out nearly 20,000 competitors to make it to the Season 5 Regional Finals:

Larry Bagby, Sherman Oaks, CA
Jennifer Kay Bennett, Grand Prairie, TX
Nathan Belt, Grapevine, TX
Deborah Cade, Venice, CA
Gian Cage, Nashville, TN
Lisa Curl, Oklahoma City, OK
Haley Davis, Beaufort, SC
John DeLucia, Orangevale, CA
Ericka Dunlap, Orlando, FL
Mary Sue Englund, Afton, MN
Andy Eutsler, Marionville, MO
Rose Falcon, Nashville, TN
Marc (Butter) Fortney, Nashville, TN
Robert Frith, Sugarland, TX
Carrie Furman, Tulsa OK / Wellington, FL
Dana Gibbons, Orem, UT
Victoria Gibson, Cumming, GA
Ashley Grutter, Sand Lake, MI
Angela Hacker, Florence, AL
Zach Hacker, Florence, AL
Josh Helms, Largo, FL
Janny Hershey, Charlotte/Chapel Hill, NC
Allie Holroyd, Simpsonville, SC
Marcy Hook, Brentwood, TN
Jay Hovater, Cherokee, AL
Erica Hoyt, Brentwood, TN
Brigid Kaelin, Louisville, KY
Meg Allison Kaney, Chicago, IL
Jordan Lambert, Baton Rouge, LA
Jami Lampkins, Las Vegas, NV
Tim LaRoche, White House, TN
Jesse Lee, Delray Beach, FL
Amanda Leigh, Chandler, AZ
Sammi Moore, Whitwell, TN
Kacey Musgraves, Golden, TX
(Pizza) Bob Neace, Merritt Island, FL
Eric Neznik, Denton, TX
Johnny Orr, Angier, NC
Rich Ortiz, Sarasota, NY
Dana Pyle, Chickasha, OK
Michael Ray, Eustis, FL
Marcy Reynolds, Bells, TN
Mike Rodgers, Little Rock, AR
Rickiejoleen Selman, Tempe, AZ
Cynthia Sheppard, Morton, IL
Matt Stell, Center Ridge, AR
Kelly Stanley, Chicago, IL
David St.Romain, Baton Rouge, LA
Dani Strong, Newmarket, Ontario, CANADA
Jay Teter, Edwardsburg, MI
Patrick Vandiver, Lincolnton, GA
Idgy Vaughn, Austin, TX
Shaun Garth Walker, Ypsilanti, MI
Dustin Wilkes, Jefferson, GA
Amanda Williams, Pegram, TN
Rich York, Fair Lawn, NJ

Congratulations to the Regional Finalists and good luck to everyone who auditioned from all of us at Nashville Star!

from:
http://www.usanetwork.com/series/nashvillestar/behindthescenes/news/101906.html



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Interesting.. I noticed there's no one in any Northeastern states except 1 person in Sarasota, NY. Seems like a big region of the US to leave out.

I also recognize some names and it appears that some names I was hoping to see aren't there (and a few more never actually tried out ack...).

Brian

I would hope that these are the "56" best they could come up with, regardless of where they are from. .. doesn't that make more sense?

~~shelia

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http://www.sheliaquattlebaum.com

"You need a car with good tires on it and the right place to eat barbeque."

Sheila,

I agree they should choose the best absolutely. My point was it seemed very tilted towards markets where they do well in TV ratings versus the Northeast where Country music isn't as popular. So yes, if they chose the best, that's great. I know one outstanding artist at least they passed over and I know some names on the list that don't hold a candle to this artist.. the artist they passed over was from the NE. That's what made me think it was interesting that an entire (and by far the most populus) region of the US was left out.

Brian